Approve a Bamboo Ordinance for Northampton Township, Bucks County, PA.

Residents, including myself, of Holland, Richboro, Churchville and Village Shires are tired of dealing with Bamboo invading their property with no recourse. It's an extreme nuisance, defacing and damaging to private property. Surrounding towns have strong ordinances banning Bamboo, its planting, unrestricted growth and the crossing of property lines. These ordinances hold the Bamboo owner fully responsible for its complete removal from the Bamboo owners property and all adjoining properties including all fees and damages. We are collecting signatures for Northampton Township to begin the process of creating an ordinance Banning Bamboo and holding the Bamboo originator fully responsible.

Ultimately, we are promoting healthy, neighborly relationships!

Please sign to show your support of a Bamboo Ban Ordinance for Northampton Townships. Thank you!

Proposed Bamboo Ordinance Terms

Prohibited:

1. Bamboo of any kind, in any fashion restricted or unrestricted, shall not be planted, maintained, or otherwise permitted to exist.

1.A. If section 1. does not pass approval: Bamboo of any kind, in any fashion restricted or unrestricted, shall not be planted, maintained, or otherwise permitted to exist within 50 feet of the edge of the pavement or traveled portion of a public road in the Township, within 50 feet of the property line of any Township/public property, or within 50 feet of the property line of an adjoining or neighboring property.

2. Each bamboo owner shall be required to take all such measures to prevent such bamboo from invading the setbacks set forth in subsection (1) above. Such measures shall include, but are not limited to, installation of sheathing comprised of metal or other material impenetrable by bamboo at a sufficient depth within the property line or lines where the running bamboo is planted or is growing to prevent such growth or encroachment prohibited herein.

Removal: 1. In the event that bamboo growing on a bamboo owner’s property invades or grows on adjoining or neighboring residential owned property or that is owned or held on behalf of the Township, the Township will notify the bamboo owner in writing that the bamboo has invaded a neighboring residential owned property or Township property and that the bamboo owner is responsible for the complete removal of such running bamboo from the bamboos owner's property, all adjoining properties and Township property. This notice shall be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested and by regular mail to the latest address of the bamboo owner on file with the Township and a copy of the notice shall also be posted at the bamboo owner’s property.

2. In the event that the bamboo owner does not remove the bamboo from the bamboos owner's property, all adjoining properties and Township property or does not make an arrangement agreeable to the Township for removal of such bamboo within 30 days from the date the Township first provided notice pursuant to the above, the Township, at its discretion, may fine the bamboo owner an initial $5000 and additional monthly fees for non compliance with removal within 30 days, may remove or arrange for the removal of such bamboo from the Township property. The bamboo owner shall be liable and responsible to the adjoining residential property owners and Township for any and all damages and the cost incurred for removal of the bamboo from the adjoining residential property and Township property. Such costs may be assessed against the property of the bamboo owner.

Existing bamboo prior to sanctioned date:3. All bamboo in existence or planted prior to this sanction date of ordinance is immediately to comply with all Sections of this ordinance.

Replanting: 1. Replanting prohibited. Any bamboo either planted or caused to be planted or existing on a property prior to the effective date of this Section may not be replanted or replaced once such running bamboo is or has become, for any reason, dead, destroyed, uprooted, or otherwise removed.

Neighbor Reporting:1. A bamboo owner suspected to be in violation of any section of bamboo ordinance may notify the township via certified mail, return receipt requested and by regular mail. The Township within 30 days will notify the bamboo owner in writing that the bamboo has invaded a neighboring residential owned property or Township property and that the bamboo owner is responsible for the complete removal of such running bamboo from the bamboo owner's property, all adjoining properties and Township property. From which point all sections of this bamboo ordinance are to be complied with and enforced.